Tag Archives: facial fillers in Atlanta ga

Kybella™ Fat Reduction for the Double Chin

kybella chin reduction atlanta duluth gaOh, the dreaded “double chin.”  How does it seemingly appear out of nowhere?  Why won’t it go away?  Can it go away with diet and exercise?  If you’ve ever asked yourself any of these questions, then listen up!  There are several factors that can contribute to a man or woman’s double chin; age, genetics and weight gain are all possible causes.  No matter how diligent you are in eating right and exercising, it just may not be able to do the trick.  That’s where the new, FDA-approved nonsurgical treatment Kybella™ fat reduction for the chin comes into play!

According to a 2014 American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), 68% of people polled shared being bothered by their double chin (also referred to as submental fullness).  As a double board certified plastic surgeon, I am always researching the latest techniques and products influencing the plastic surgery field.  Typically, body contouring procedures were the only way to address fat stored below the chin, but Kybella™ has proven to be the nonsurgical alternative.  Let’s go over some of the top frequently asked questions we’ve received regarding Kybella™ and its benefits:

Q: Am I a good candidate for Kybella™ fat reduction treatments?
A: Patients who are unhappy by the appearance of their double chin, feel their appearance looks aged or heavier than it actually is or may not yet be ready for surgical contouring procedures, like liposuction, are good candidates for Kybella™ treatments.

Q: Does Kybella™ fat reduction work on other parts of the body?
A: Kybella™ is only FDA approved for use on the fat below the chin.  Sorry, but it’s not recommended as safe for use on any other parts of the body.

Q: How do Kybella™ fat reduction treatments work?
A: Think of Kybella™ as a combination of body contouring and cosmetic injectable treatments.  The main ingredient used is a naturally-occurring substance already in our bodies, called deoxycholic acid.  This molecule helps the body breakdown and absorb dietary fat; when Kybella™ treatment is administered (during a 15-20 minute series of injections into the fat below your chin), it destroys the fat cells so they can no longer accumulate fat.  After treatment, Kybella™ patients see improved, younger-looking contours and a slimmer chin profile.

Q: Are there any risks and how long will my results last?
A: Downtime is fairly minimal after your first treatment.  Common side effects include swelling, bruising, numbness, stiffness or redness.  An ice/cold pack and over-the-counter medicine is all that is really recommended to help relieve any discomfort after treatment.  As far as results, it will depend on the person and how much fat we need to get rid of.  Generally we recommend 2-4 treatments but some patients may need up to six for the best results.  As long as you’re diligent with doing your part to maintain your weight, the fat cells should remain permanently gone!

Instead of wishing your double chin away, why not treat it the nonsurgical way with Kybella™ fat reduction?  If you’d like to learn more about Kybella™ or schedule your Kybella™ treatment, contact Southern Plastic Surgery today.  Stay connected with SPS by following me, Dr. David Whiteman, on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Grammy Makeover Series: The Face

When we announced our brand new Grammy makeover procedure last month, there was so much we wanted to share (but there are far too many possibilities and we didn’t want to flood you with everything all at once)!  As a single, combination procedure made up of face, hand, arm, body and breast procedures, this “a-la-carte” type of tailored surgical plan helps restore a pre-child/grandchild body – so we thought we’d highlight each key part that makes a Grammy makeover so appealing to mature, female patients.  Since the face is often the first thing people notice about another person, let’s start with the surgical and nonsurgical features that can be included in your Grammy makeover facial plastic surgery plan.

When we consider facial plastic surgery, there are two ways that I can approach treatment.  As a double-board certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years specializing in facial procedures, I like to start by mapping out your surgical goals.  Are your eyelids hooded?  Has your chin accumulated pockets of fat creating a double chin?  Are the deep wrinkles of the forehead bothering you?  A facelift is often the first facial procedure that comes to mind when I talk to facial rejuvenation candidates.  A full facelift tightens loose facial skin and smoothes wrinkles mainly around the cheeks, neck and jowls (think lower half of the face) but sometimes that’s not necessarily enough, or for others needed at all, to achieve a younger look.  There are several facial procedures that focus on specific portions of the face to help provide overall rejuvenation.  The main facial plastic surgery procedures included in the Grammy makeover, beyond facelifts, are browlift, necklift and eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) – we’ll get more into the nonsurgical highlights a bit later:

GMFace

Now, to cover the other part that makes up the facial side of Grammy makeovers.  Cosmetic injectables are always topping the most popular nonsurgical facial rejuvenation procedure list.  They can do everything from temporarily relax facial muscles of the forehead (like Botox® or Dysport®), plump up the lips (Restylane® Silk) and even add volume to hollowed cheeks (with Juvéderm® as an example).  Now, we have added Kybella™ for fat reduction of the chin to our menu of cosmetic injectables.  Kybella™ is the newest, and only FDA-approved, treatment for the “double chin” that can add unwanted weight and age to a person’s face.  This cosmetic injectable uses the active ingredient deoxycholic acid, which is already naturally found in the body.   Once Kybella™ is injected in the fat below the chin, it breaks down and destroys the fat accumulating cells so they are no longer able to store fat.  Several treatments may be needed to get a younger-looking profile of the chin or they can be used post-facial rejuvenation surgery as a type of “touch-up.”

Facial plastic surgery results can last a very long time as long as you do your part to maintain (like wearing your SPF, avoiding smoking and making sure you’re eating and exercising right).  In order to do this, many Grammy makeover patients tailor a post-makeover maintenance plan to incorporate nonsurgical treatments like cosmetic injectables and laser skincare procedures to help them keep their face looking young.  We’re all going to continue aging and a lot of patients like to keep a consistent routine to push back the need for more surgery until a later time.  Just depends on your overall goals!

Next time on our Grammy makeover series we will talk about the arm and hand components, so be sure to check back regularly.  If you’re interested in learning more about Grammy makeovers, mommy makeovers, or any of the other cosmetic and reconstructive procedures we offer, we encourage you to contact Southern Plastic Surgery (SPS) at 770-622-9100 with any questions you may have.  Stay connected with the SPS and me, Dr. David Whiteman on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for more.

Posted in Blog, Educational, Facial Plastic Surgery, In the News

Introducing the Grammy Makeover Series

Some of you may be familiar with the popular mommy makeover procedure.  Best known as a combination of breast and body contouring procedures (performed in one comprehensive surgery), mommy makeovers address common physical changes mothers can experience after pregnancy and childbirth to restore a pre-baby body.  Now, we’d like to introduce to you the Grammy makeover – the newest combo procedure helping grandmothers and mature women everywhere get their pre-child/grandchild body back!You can think of a Grammy makeover as a supercharged mommy makeover – offering a wide variety of face, hand, arm, breast and body contouring procedures to combine into one procedure.  After we determine your cosmetic goals, we’ll take a look at the procedures that will help you achieve your ultimate plastic surgery results.  For part one of my Grammy makeover series, I would like to start by covering some of the options that Grammy makeover patients have.

Grammy-Makeover

 

Grammy makeovers can address a multitude of concerns.  From creating a well-rested look by eliminating fat pockets and excess tissue with eyelid surgery to saying goodbye to sagging skin and wrinkles with a neck lift or facelift, Grammy makeovers can start with breathing new life into the face.  To compliment your overall look, cosmetic injectables like Botox® or facial fillers like Juvéderm® may be a non-surgical addition to your Grammy makeover.  As we head to the breasts, we will evaluate their look, in relation to your body frame (are they sagging, too big, too small or all the above?) and determine which breast enhancement procedure will give you bigger (or smaller), perkier breasts – depending on your preference.  If “bat wings” keep you hiding your arms, you may consider an arm lift to remove the extra skin and create a more toned appearance.  To create a sculpted midsection, free of a stomach pooch or weakened abdominal muscles, tummy tuck (also known as abdominoplasty) using the scarpa fascia technique may be what you need.  Finally, let’s not forget about the hands; what better way to complete your Grammy makeover than with hand rejuvenation using Radiesse®?  What’s unique about the Grammy makeover is that it’s 100% customizable; for you and only you.  There isn’t a pre-determined package to limit the type of results you want; the combination possibilities with a Grammy makeover are endless!

As your double board-certified surgeon, I want to help restore the face and body to its once youthful look.  Natural-looking plastic surgery results that highlight each patient’s beautiful existing features are important, so creating a surgical plan that best suits them uniquely is vital.  As an added bonus just as with mommy makeovers, Grammy makeovers have low overall complication rates (this is largely in part to working with an experienced, board-certified surgeon because not all doctors have the same expertise and skillset).  Grammy makeovers also offer the same benefit as mommy makeovers in regards to what patients save – time and money.  By combining procedures into one, patients reduce their overall recovery time (imagine having 3-5 separate surgeries spanned over several months, or years, versus once) as well as extra costs associated with surgical fees that can certainly add up with each individual procedure.

Plastic surgery doesn’t have to be a hard-reaching goal; you just need to know your options!  If you’ve been considering a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure or would like to learn more about the Grammy makeover, please contact Southern Plastic Surgery (SPS).  Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks as we discuss more details on the Grammy makeover.  Be sure to also follow SPS on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for the latest updates.